CMPT 773 (Fall 2006): Final project---Grading rubric for written report

Grading rubric for final written report

The following principles will be used to evaluate your written report. They focus more on content and writing style than the rubric for your oral presentation. The argument in the written report should present more subtleties of your method and results and more of your data.

1. Structure (same as for presentation—but will take different forms in a report)
   • Sequence flows well. For scientific presentations, the following sequence is traditional:
     • Introduction: The research question and its larger significance.
     • Method for answering the question.
     • Results: Data gathered by the method. In the case of your projects, this will be more pilot data than full results.
     • Discussion of the implications of the results.
     • Conclusion.
     However, you may wish to use a different sequence. If you do, be sure to cover all the above topics at some point in your report.
   • Transitions clear but don't draw attention to themselves.
2. Tables, graphs, and figures
   • Present both trends and the underlying data from which those trends were derived. You may want to do some first-level aggregation and not present raw data, however.
   • Allow reader to verify your claims are derivable from the (possibly aggregated) data.
   • Titles and notes allow them to stand alone.
   • Are discussed in the text and main claims described in the text. However, the discussion should not entirely duplicate the graph or table (that forces an insupportable burden of detail in the text and makes the table redundant).
   • Germane to argument. Only the most important points represented these ways.
   • Don't draw attention to themselves. For example, avoid rendering two-dimensional charts and graphs in orthogonal or perspective 3-D projections.
3. Argument
   • Tells a story. This story may not directly follow the historical sequence of your research.
   • Question clearly stated.
   • Method appropriate to the question. Discuss limitations of your method.
   • Combine summary of data with substantial detail. You should present more detail in your written report than in your presentation.
   • Exceptional data points (outliers, failed trials) briefly described.
   • Answer clearly stated.
   • Data presented to support answer. (In this case, the limited data available will only be able to suggest support for an answer.)
   • Discuss possible generalizations of your results. What advice can you strongly give (within the limitations of your data)? What changes were suggested to your research approach? What tentative advice can you offer? What remains completely unknown?
4. Style
   • Sentences direct and to the point.
   • Citations appropriate and well-done. You may use APA, IEEE, or any other standard citation and reference style.
   • Appropriate information present in reference section.